WordPress Importer vs WP Import Export Lite (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Import Plugins top 10: WordPress Importer at #9 and WP Import Export Lite at #6. WordPress Importer leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
WordPress Importer
Import posts, pages, comments, custom fields, categories, tags and more from a WordPress export file.
WP Import Export Lite
Complete Import & Export solution for Posts, Pages, Custom Posts, Users, Taxonomies, Comments, and more.
Who leads on what
WordPress Importer leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
WP Import Export Lite ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Import Plugins.
WordPress Importer has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 40,000+.
WP Import Export Lite is rated higher: 4.0 out of 5 from 113 reviews, against 3.1 from 327 reviews.
WordPress Importer has more reviews behind its score: 327 against 113.
WordPress Importer was updated more recently, on October 20, 2026; WP Import Export Lite on September 12, 2026.
WordPress Importer was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 1,358,829 times against 11,249.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
WordPress Importer
Pick WordPress Importer if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
WP Import Export Lite
Pick WP Import Export Lite if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or the review score matters most to you.
WordPress Importer vs WP Import Export Lite side by side
| WordPress Importer | WP Import Export Lite | |
|---|---|---|
| Import Plugins ranking | #9 | #6 |
| Rating | 3.1 | 4.0 |
| Reviews | 327 | 113 |
| Active installs | 2 million+ | 40,000+ |
| Total downloads | 72,847,667 | 1,016,919 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 1,358,829 | 11,249 |
| Last updated | Oct 20, 2026 | Sep 12, 2026 |
| First published | May 20, 2010 | Jul 27, 2019 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.8.11 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
WordPress Importer ratings
WP Import Export Lite ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither WordPress Importer nor WP Import Export Lite can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Import Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
WordPress Importer vs WP Import Export Lite: common questions
Is WordPress Importer better than WP Import Export Lite?
WordPress Importer leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WP Import Export Lite ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Import Plugins.
Which has more users, WordPress Importer or WP Import Export Lite?
WP Import Export Lite ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #9 in Import Plugins.
Which is rated higher, WordPress Importer or WP Import Export Lite?
WordPress Importer has more users: 2 million+ active installs against 40,000+.
Are WordPress Importer and WP Import Export Lite free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. WordPress Importer is a community plugin with no paid version. WP Import Export Lite may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to WordPress Importer and WP Import Export Lite
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Widget Importer & Exporter
200,000+ installs · 4.7 from 117 reviews
-
Customizer Export/Import
100,000+ installs · 4.8 from 115 reviews
-
One Click Demo Import
1 million+ installs · 4.3 from 79 reviews
-
Import / Export Customizer Settings
50,000+ installs · 4.7 from 6 reviews
-
WP All Import
50,000+ installs · 5.0 from 6 reviews
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.